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First-Round Pick DL Hall Undecided Between Orioles And College

June 16, 2017

By Chase Pyke

Orioles first-round draft pick DL Hall remains unsure whether he will sign with the club or honor his commitment to play collegiate baseball at Florida State,
he told Glenn Clark Radio June 14.

"I think that's something that me and my family are working on making a decision," Hall said. "But I think either way it will be a blessing, whether I go play pro ball or if I do go play for Florida State. I think either way it's a win-win situation.

"... It's kind of one of those decisions that you make after [the draft] really, I've always been a real big fan of college and college has always [been] big for me in my head, but we'll see what happens."

The Orioles selected Hall, an explosive left-handed pitcher from Valdosta High School in Georgia, with the No. 21 pick in the 2017 MLB Draft June 12. Including Hall, the Orioles have drafted a pitcher in the first round for the fifth time in the past seven years.

Lauded by scouts for his velocity and athleticism, Hall possesses a fastball that tops out at 96 mph and a "devastating" curveball, according to his high school coach Bart Shuman.

"He's not going to be a Greg Maddux or Tom Glavine kind of guy with [spotting-up] control right now, but I do see him having good control and the ability to throw inside and outside," Shuman, whose son Seth was drafted by the Orioles in the 39th round last year,
told Glenn Clark Radio June 13.

"I think my biggest thing is power fastball and a hard curveball, those are my two best pitches," Hall said. "And this spring, I've really developed a changeup that has been working out really well for me."

Along with his pitching prowess, Hall's freakish athleticism is well known. The 18-year-old had a .349/.439/.674 slash line and played the field when not pitching for Valdosta.

"Everything that I do try to play I try to be the best at it. I think that a big part of it," Hall said.

Hall confirmed on Glenn Clark Radio that he dunked a basketball flat-footed as a high school freshman and still dunks often.

"My best thing will probably be throwing it up like a shot, like short, and bouncing it up to myself and catching it in the air and wind-milling," Hall said.

Whether Hall signs with the Orioles or opts to attend Florida State, he is prepared for whatever comes next, including one day facing the world's best hitters. Responding to Shuman's suggestion that Hall could get out New York Yankees phenom and Oriole foe Aaron Judge, he oozed confidence.

"I mean, I think I can get out anybody," Hall said. "That's the mindset you have to have as a pitcher."